BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of March 13, 2007

 

A special meeting was held at 9:05 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-14 setting Skamania County policy for responding to elimination or significant reduction of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act payments.  The Board advised they would be providing a press release to Skamania County Pioneer to inform citizens of the County’s policy that outlines the general process for planning for future transition of services and service levels if payments are cut or eliminated.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to review and discuss the Swift Subarea Plan and County Comprehensive Plan, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson gave an update on a Southwest Washington Forest Service Province Advisory Committee meeting held on March 9, 2007.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:25 p.m. Monday, March 12, 2007.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of March 6, 2007.

2.       United Way of the Columbia Gorge 2007 Allocation Request for funding for Senior Services Senior Nutrition Program.

3.       Contract renewal with Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, Malanca, and Peterson & Daheim for labor negotiations consultant services.

4.       Maintenance agreement with JL Enterprises NW, Inc for Public Works large format copier.

 

Sealed proposals for Hearing Examiner Services were opened.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to refer the following proposals to Planning and Community Development for review and recommendation.

§         Toweill Rice Taylor, Kirkland, WA

§         Sound Law Center, Seattle, WA

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize the purchase of Microsoft Exchange and 300 CALs for McAfee Internet Security necessary to update Exchange Service to monitor and block unwanted internet attacks.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on the Rock Creek slide, Public Works, Road Department, and engineering.

 

Mary Frice, Senior Services Transportation Manager presented recommendations for the surplus of Senior Services vehicles.  The Board requested to schedule a workshop with the Senior Services Director to review and discuss the recommendations.

 

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on email, scheduled computer replacements, new equipment purchases for various departments, and gave updates on various projects and programs.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 and reconvened at 11:05 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Nancy Oster, Noxious Weed Control Partnership Specialist reported on the knotweed program, Title II funding, data sharing, and advised of the Noxious Weed Coordinator’s request to replace two Natural Resource positions with four Summer College positions.  The Board advised of their agreement with this request.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to ratify the Board’s approval on March 12, 2007 of Resolution 2007-14 setting Skamania County policy for responding to elimination or significant reduction of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act payments.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:17 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2007-05 amending Skamania County Code Chapter 3.45 Current Use Assessment Programs, Section 3.45.11 Primary Use for Forest Crop Production to include language for any parcel that was in the process of a land division at the time of adoption.  Commissioner Pearce gave an overview of Ordinance 2006-14, adopted on November 16, 2006, adopting and establishing rules of implementation of the Open Space, Agricultural and Timber Lands Current Use Assessment Programs; and the need to amend the Ordinance to allow two property owners, who were in the process of land divisions, to complete the process.  Brad Andersen, attorney for one of the property owners in the process of a land division, advised of support for the ordinance amendment and suggested changes to the amendment language.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2007-05 as presented.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a letter to the Forest Service Supervisor requesting a response to earlier correspondence regarding Skamania County’s request to become formally involved in forest management issues and planning on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest through official cooperating agency status.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2007 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss on Rock Creek slide, Salmon Falls Park and Ride, Hamilton Creek, employee issues, and VEBA, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss a joint workshop with the Planning Commission, Swift Plan, storm water utility district draft ordinance, GIS software price quote, Hearing Examiner request for proposals, milfoil request for proposals, Hemlock Dam meeting, historic structures, and Black Bear permit software, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss a draft homeless housing resolution, soil conservation district legislation, Solid Waste Transfer Site baler, CMASA letter, property issues, and timber tax, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:57 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2007 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Senior Services, to discuss Home Care Programs, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding litigation from 2:24 p.m. until 2:33 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a joint workshop with the Planning Commission, to discuss the general process on legislative issues, 2007/2008 priority task list, and long range planning projects, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:48 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2007 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member reported on the CRGC meeting of March 13, 2007.  Discussion included management plan amendments, terms of officers, compliance issues in Multnomah County, air quality study, horse boarding, Broughton proposal, tribal fishing sites, and budget.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Robert L. Stevens regarding timber tax classification.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007 and reconvened at 11:05 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending March 15, 2007 in the total amount of $310,801.04.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON